Trump Eyes Kharg Island as US-Iran Peace Talks Sputter Along

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is once again floating the idea of seizing Kharg Island, Iran’s most important oil export terminal, even as American and Israeli forces keep up their military campaign against Tehran.

The fighting hasn’t stayed contained to Iran and Israel. It’s bled out across the wider Gulf, with Iran striking back at Israel and at several of its Arab neighbors. Saudi Arabia has had to shoot down incoming missiles, and Kuwait has taken hits to its infrastructure as well.

A ceasefire may — or may not — be taking shape

Behind the scenes, Pakistan has been trying to broker a sit-down between Washington and Tehran. Donald Trump insists the diplomacy is moving in the right direction, though Iran tells a different story, denying that any direct talks with the US are even happening.

Each side has floated its own conditions for winding down the conflict, but they remain far apart — and the Strait of Hormuz keeps emerging as the sticking point neither wants to budge on.

Iran strikes back at Gulf infrastructure

Iran hasn’t limited its retaliation to Israel. It’s gone after critical infrastructure across the Gulf, including what appears to have been a strike on a power and desalination plant in Kuwait.

That’s a bigger deal than it might sound. Gulf nations rely heavily on desalination to turn seawater into drinking water, so any damage to those facilities raises real concerns about the region’s water security, not just its energy supply.

Oil markets on edge over the Strait of Hormuz

Energy markets are watching the Strait of Hormuz nervously, and for good reason — a huge share of the world’s oil supply moves through that narrow waterway. Traders and analysts warn that any extended disruption there could tighten global oil supply and send prices climbing, feeding fears of a broader energy crunch.

Washington keeps building up its footprint.

The US has continued reinforcing its military presence in the region. Donald Trump has gone further, suggesting that actually taking Kharg Island wouldn’t be a quick operation — it could mean a much longer American military commitment than officials have publicly acknowledged so far.

For now, the fighting and the diplomacy are running on parallel tracks: strikes continue even as negotiators try to keep the war from spiraling further out of control.